Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Tree

BIRTH: He was 64 years old when he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension, May 7, 1818.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR: In his Rev. War Pension Appl. John stated he served in Col. Wm Douglas Regt., which was the Fifth Batt. of the Wadsworth Brigade, and he may have known the Cook family in his service. In his Rev. War Pension Appl. John stated he served in Col. Wm Douglas Regt., which was the Fifth Batt. of the Wadsworth Brigade in which Amasa Cook and Joel Gaylord served, and possibly Daniel Jr. (Daniel Jr. later became his brother-in-law. Amasa was Daniel Jr.’s brother and Joel his brother-in-law.) They were stationed at Kip's Bay, lower Manhattan when the British landed on Sept 15,1776. They were stationed at Kip's Bay, lower Manhattan when the British landed on Sept 15, 1776. Col. Douglas commanded his men to "save themselves and run," which apparently John Porter did (David McCullough, 1776, Simon & Schuster, pp. 210-212.) "Bethlehem: John Porter, 1776-1777, Minuteman, 1776, and a Levy (taken back and forth into additional units, including Continental units, when needed) in the 5th Regt. Ct. Line 1779-1780." (American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776, Woodbury. (NEHGS Library F 104 w88w6.) John Porter listed among Revolutionary War soldiers from Woodbury, History of Ancient Woodbury, Family History Library book 974.6 H2cw, p. 778-787.

GOSHEN "John Porter of Goshen," soldier, petition showing he served 6 months and received no pay. It was granted that the claim would be settled when he appeared on the pay table. Dated May, 1783 (Connecticut Archives, Rev. War. Selected Papers, XXIV:333,334, Family History Library film 3557.) This is probably the service in Col. Webb's unit in which he served with his brother Benjamin. John is listed July 23-Dec 14, 1780. Benjamin served Aug 20-Dec 4. in the same unit. (CT Men in the Revolution.) He stated he was "under low circumstances in the world." Order for pay for John Porter, Jan. 1784: "Upon the application of John Porter: Resolved that ye Committee of ye Pay Table liquidate and adjust his account as clerk to said G--- and Council of Safety and draw on ye treasurer for said balance they shall find justly due." (Revolutionary War Records, Series 1, Vol. 26, 1783-1784, Family History Library 3559, p. 329) Received back pay in 1786: Revolutionary War Papers, Series 1, Vol. 16, Part 1, 1779-1780, Family History Library 3549, Pay Abstracts, 5th Connecticut Regiment, p. 3g (It was noted he was the John Porter who had enlisted in Woodbury in 1779.)

GOSHEN CT: Land Records: Goshen Grantee Index, F.H.L. film 4416, Benjamin bought land in Goshen Dec 6, 1784 "John and Benjamin Porter, both of Goshen" "to their heirs and assigns," etc. mentioned 4 times. Since John's name is listed first and he was not involved in the sale of the land when Benjamin moved in 1796, this John is probably John Senior. I have never found a single land record for John Junior, not in Watertown, Woodbury, Goshen, or in Steuben/Schuyler/Yates Counties in New York. Plus in 1783 he said himself he was "in low circumstances" when he applied for back pay. Since he didn't receive the back pay until 1786 I don't believe he could have bought the land.(JSP 1-6-2010)

1790 CENSUS: Not in Litchfield County, CT.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR Revolutionary War Records, Series 1, Vol. 5, part 1, 1776, Bethlem Householders and Organization of officers: John Porter is listed among the soldiers as drummer, July, 1776, p. 8a, (Family History Library 3538) REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION: Applied for Revolutionary War Pension 27 May 1818, Reading, Steuben, New York. He enlisted in Bethlehem, Ct. John is 64 years old, a resident of Reading, Steuben, New York. (p. 209, 212) On 6 Feb. 1822 John Porter was “now of Wayne in Steuben County.” (p. 229) Summary on p. 214: John is aged 67; his wife 64. Both of them are feeble and in need of help. Their combined possessions amount to $22.50. He owns no land (obviously living with family members.) He enlisted in Bethlehem, Ct. before 1779. In 1779 he and his wife and one child moved to Watertown in a home owned by Ruth and James Eggleston of Bethlehem where he enlisted again and was gone at least 10 months, according to their letter. He was known as John Jr. in the letter. There is also a letter from Benjamin Porter of Genesee County, New York. His military Record (condensed from three separate listings in which he served from 1776 to 1783.) Enlisted April or May, 1776 for 6 months, Connecticut Line, belonged to the company commanded by Captain Thaddeus Hurd of the Regiment commanded by Col. Douglas. He was enlisted “by our Ensign Elisha Clark at Bethlehem, Ct.” Shortly afterward they marched to New York City and at Fort Washington until New York was taken by the British. After the battle of White Plains, he continued to serve in the said corps until Dec. 25 when he was discharged at Fishkill. He again enlisted in Mar. or Apr. 1779 in Litchfield for the term of 8 months in the Connecticut State Line. They joined Captain Sill’s Company at Nilson’s Point, a place nearly opposite of West Point on the North River, Colonel Baldwin Company, Lieutenant Chapman. Discharged 4 miles from Morristown, New Jersey Dec. 31. (Later he corrected himself to say “Captain Sill himself having been appointed aide de camp to Lord Sterling.”) From Nilson’s Point he marched to Morristown and was discharged January 15, 1780. In "Connecticut Men in the Revolution" p. 67 it states John Porter of Woodbury is found in "Return of the Eight Months Men" in the Fifth CT Regt Commanded by P. B. Bradley, Colonel in 1779, and that he served August 31, 1779 to Jan. 15, 1780. Again enlisted in the Continental Line in May or June 1780 as near as he can recollect for the term of 9 months. The captain’s name he forgot, but the name of the Lieutenant of the company was Chapman, the Regiment commanded by Col. Baldwin. He continued to serve in said corps or in the service of the United States, until Jan 15, 1781 when he was discharged. He again enlisted in the service of the United States (Continental Army) for 9 months some time about the 4th of March, 1782 while at the Highlands on the North River. At first he remembered he served in the company commanded by Capt. Sill of the Regiment of which the Lieutenant Colonel was named Troop; the Major was Smith. The name of the Colonel “he don’t recollect.” Later he remembered he served under Lieutenant Bemon or Bemont, Colonel Sherman and Major Smith. 5. He continued to serve in said corps until Jan. 1783. Discharged by Colonel ____ Webb. Previous to his discharge he had been transferred to said Colonel Webb’s Regiment of the Continental Line. He was discharged at West Point, New York. (pp. 212-216, 232) Application rejected because of a technicality. His name was not found in the book of men enlisted in Col. Baldwin’s Regiment March 1777 to Dec. 1780. (Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Porter, Family History Library film 971,954, #R8344, pp. 208-234.) Reapplied 6 Feb 1822 from Wayne, Steuben, New York (boundaries had changed but they hadn't moved.) Depositions were signed by Benjamin Porter of Genesee Co. New York, James Eggleston and Ruth Eggleston of Woodbury. The Egglestons wrote they had let John Porter Jr., his wife and child use their home in Waterbury in 1779 while John "went a soldiering."

STEUBEN CO. NY: The Hosmer manuscript cited in the elusive Benjamin Porter says that John left Litchfield about 1795. No land or probate records for John, Joseph or Thomas Porter were recorded. During this time John Young was in Wayne and Tyrone, N.Y. Brigham Young wrote of their poverty and isolation when his father's large family lived there. It was in Wayne his mother died, and his father remarried. They had 100 acres there before moving to Mendon near Ithaca. (Brigham Young Autobiography) Also in Steuben County was Robert Porter of Prattsburg, son of Noah and Mercy Lewis Porter of Farmington. John and Robert were second cousins.

SCHUYLER CO. NY: Reading was in Steuben in 1820, but changed to Schuyler County when it was organized in 1850. Cemeteries are still recorded in Schuyler, but land and court records are in Steuben. Cornell University Libraries, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, John M. Olin Library, Ithaca, New York, 14853, Study Center for Early Religious Life in Western New York, Index: (Family History Library book 974.7  A1  No.425, pt. 2) The following found in the Schuyler County Index: Second Baptist Church of Reading, NY, 1809-1851. Also “Some Cemeteries of Between the Lakes Country (Seneca, Schuyler, and Tompkins Counties, NY” published in the Interlaken Review, 1974,3 vols, #3175. Should be searched if possible.

STEUBEN-SCHUYLER-YATES COUNTIES: "Barrington was not an original town of Yates County. On the 18th of March, 1796, Steuben County was erected, and included within its boundaries all that is now called Barrington, and Starkey as well. Upon the organization of Steuben, and the formation of its territory into townships, all that is now Barrington, together with what is now called Starkey and Tyrone, Wayne and Reading, comprised the original town of Frederickton. The town of Reading was afterward set off, and Wayne organized, including Barrington." (http://www.townofbarrington.org/history/history.htm)

1820 CENSUS: Reading, Steuben, New York, enumerated August 7, 1820. John Porter's household has one male and one female, both over 45. One is engaged in manufacture. Next door is Joseph Porter, 3 males under 10, one male 26-44. One female 10-16 and one female over 45. Thomas Porter is also in the county. (1820 U S Census; Census Place: Reading, Steuben, New York; Page: 259; NARA Roll: M33_74; Image: 270, Ancestry.com

1825 NY STATE CENSUS: John Porter in Reading, Steuben, NY. One male who is a voter, 1 female. 2 head cattle, 12 yards cloth, no land. Joseph Porter is also in Reading, NY. His household has 4 females, 1 married and 4 unmarried. They live on 8 acres of improved land with 2 cattle, 1 horse, 2 hogs, 30 yards of fabric. (Family History Library film 512419, item 1.) Pages are unnumbered. John is about p. 5; Joseph p. 2)

1830 CENSUS: No John Porter in Steuben or Yates Counties. Thomas Porter who may be his son was in Barrington, Yates County (formerly Wayne and Reading in Steuben County) until his death. Apparently none of them moved but simply became part of the new county.

DEATH: Death records for Steuben, Schuyler and Yates counties have been searched, but no John Porter and no one I can identify as his wife. I believe he died after 1825 and before 1830.

Proof of the parents and family of John Porter        John Porter is the son of John Porter and Deborah (Hand) of Bethlehem and Woodbury. After enlisting in the Revolutionary War in Woodbury, he was released and moved with his family to Goshen where he and his brother Benjamin both re-enlisted. Land records prove the family was in Goshen. After their parents died, John, Benjamin and Elizabeth moved to the same area in western New York. Benjamin and John cited each other in their Revolutionary War Pensions. Because vital records are non-existent at that time, land and Revolutionary War pension records prove John belonged to this family.      John Porter was listed among Revolutionary War soldiers from Woodbury. (History of Ancient Woodbury, Family History Library book 974.6 H2cw, p. 778-787.)     "Bethlehem: John Porter, 1776-1777, Minuteman, 1776, and a Levy (taken back and forth into additional units, including Continental units, when needed) in the 5th Regt.  Ct. Line 1779-1780."  (American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776, Woodbury.  (NEHGS Library F 104 w88w6.)      Revolutionary War Records, Series 1, Vol. 5, part 1, 1776, Bethlem Householders and Organization of officers: John Porter is listed among the soldiers as drummer,July, 1776, p. 8a, (Family History Library film 3538)      He was the John Porter who had enlisted in Woodbury in 1779 and was later found in pay abstracts as living in Goshen with his siblings. (Family History Library 3549,Pay Abstracts, 5th Connecticut Regiment, p. 3g.)      He enlisted in Bethlehem, Ct. before 1779.  In 1779 he and his wife and one child moved to Watertown in a home owned by Ruth and James Eggleston of Bethlehem where he enlisted again and was gone at least 10 months, according to their depositionr.   He was known as John Jr. in the letter, making it almost certain John and Deborah Porter are his parents. His packet includes a letter from Benjamin Porter, formerly of Bethlehem and Goshen, later of Genesee County, New York. His military Record (condensed from three separate listings in which he served from 1776 to 1783.)      "John Porter of Goshen," soldier, petition showing he served 6 months and received no pay. It was granted that the claim would be settled when he appeared on the pay table. Dated May, 1783 (Connecticut Archives, Rev. War.Selected Papers, XXIV:333,334, Family History Library film 3557.)  This is probably the service in Col. Webb's unit in which he served with his brother Benjamin. John is listed July 23-Dec 14, 1780. Benjamin served  Aug 20-Dec 4.in the same unit. (CT Men in the Revolution.)           In his Rev. War Pension Appl. John applied 27 May 1818, Reading, Steuben, New York, about 25 miles south of Genesee County where his brother Benjamin lived and his sister Elizabeth would later live.           He stated he had enlisted in Bethlehem, Ct. and was 64 years old, a resident of Reading, Steuben, New York.  (John Porter Pension Application p. 209, 212)      Reapplied 6 Feb 1822 from Wayne, Steuben, New York. Boundaries had changed but he probably hadn't moved.  Depositions were signed by Benjamin Porter of Genesee Co. New York, James Eggleston and Ruth Eggleston of Woodbury.  The Egglestons wrote they had let John Porter Jr., his wife and child use their home in Waterbury in 1779 while John "went a soldiering."    

It is known John Porter had a wife in 1779 when he went to live in the Eggleston's house in Watertown with his wife and child.